Description
Delightfully easy to make, these Cranberry Cream Cheese Crescent Bites combine flaky crescent roll dough with a smooth, sweet cream cheese filling and tangy cranberry sauce. Perfect for holiday parties or a festive snack, they bake up golden and topped optionally with chopped pecans or orange zest for added flavor and crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 can crescent roll dough (8-count)
Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
Topping (Optional)
- Chopped pecans
- Orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare muffin tin: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease or line a mini muffin tin to prevent sticking and to make removing the bites easier after baking.
- Make the cream cheese filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Shape the dough: Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each triangle into two smaller triangles. Press each small triangle firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the mini muffin cups, forming little cups to hold the filling.
- Assemble the bites: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each dough cup, then top with 1 teaspoon of whole berry cranberry sauce, layering flavor and texture.
- Add optional toppings: If desired, sprinkle chopped pecans or a little orange zest on top of each bite for extra crunch and a citrusy aroma.
- Bake the bites: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until the crescent dough is golden brown and cooked through. Once baked, let them cool slightly in the tin before carefully removing and serving.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese for easiest mixing and smooth texture.
- Whole berry cranberry sauce adds a nice texture contrast with the creamy filling.
- Chopped pecans add a nutty crunch; orange zest adds a bright citrus flavor.
- Allow bites to cool slightly before removing from the tin to avoid breakage.
- These bites are best served fresh but can be stored overnight in an airtight container and gently reheated before serving.
